The Analog Forest initiative, started by the Women Empowerment Centre (WEC) in 2079 BS at Manjushree Park, Kirtipur-6, has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem restoration model that integrates ancestral knowledge with climate resilience and gender equity. Despite facing major challenges this year including a landslide in August 2024 WEC responded by building a bamboo retention wall, plantations, and expanding its intervention areas. With additional land on the southern side, a compost area and nursery were established, along with the installation of a water tank and the construction of a bamboo storehouse. Other key achievements included building a rainwater harvesting system, a pond, a small bridge and entrance gate, and planting a wide variety of native species. Food sovereignty was supported by harvesting maize and beans across the site. These interventions have made the ecological and social impact of the Analog Forest increasingly visible in the local community.
WEC’s Analog Forestry work received international recognition when the International Analog Forestry Network (IAFN) selected the initiative as a global case study and advocacy model, with a video presented at COP16 in Colombia in October–November 2024. The project, carried out in collaboration with Tewa, IAFN and the Jal Binayak Community Forest User Group, focused on empowering women, youth, and indigenous people through community-led ecological restoration. Furthermore, WEC was also featured as a case study under the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA) for its leadership in gender-just climate solutions. These recognitions not only validated WEC’s work on the ground but also amplified its voice in global climate policy spaces, reinforcing the importance of grassroots leadership in building sustainable, inclusive, and biodiverse futures.
